Video and computer game playing was already addictive for some people
before online gaming, but the expansion of games into vast online worlds that can be played with other people seems to have ramped up both the fun and the addictive nature of gaming. Games like the fantasy adventure EverQuest were one of the first to bring out this addictive side of game playing and user groups like Everquest Widows sprang up
where people could vent about what had happened to their spouse or loved one.
Recently more games have expanded online including WarCraft, which recently
launched World of Warcraft, a massively online multiplayer role-playing (MMORPG) version which
registered over 200,000 users in its first few days of release. MSNBC.com offers a comparison between two exciting and popular MMORPG's: EverQuest II and World of
WarCraft. Other MMORPG's can be found using these resources.
While these games are addictive for some, many just find them enjoyable
and are able to amuse themselves and then walk away. The question is
when does someone know that the fine line between harmless fun
and compulsive gaming has been crossed? The BBC offers an ongoing discussion of this game addiction problem in an article called, "Confessions of a Game Widow."
